Brownsville, Texas' History with Tropical Systems

(br) = Brush (ts) = Tropical Storm (bd) = Back Door, meaning coming from over land from opposite coast. Not all names are noted. Also, storms before 1950 were not named. Not every stat on every storm description is given. (since 1871)

Brownsville most likely to be hit by a hurricane between August 17th and August 23rd

Years within or near core

1874tsbr
1880m
1886
1887
1895br
1902
1909
1910br
1910tsbr
1916tsbr(added from HURDAT)
1916brm
1919brm
1925ts
1933
1933tsbr
1936ts
1944tsbr(added from HURDAT)
1945br
1947ts
1954br
1958ts
1960tsbr
1967m
1980m
1983tsbr
1988brm
2003br
2008br
2010ts
2020br
2024ts

31 times in 153 years (as of end of 2024)

Names from list above (A storms most likely to impact the area)

Alice
Alma
Abbey
Beulah
Allen
Barry
Gilbert
Erika
Dolly
Hermine
Hanna
Alberto

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 13, 41.94%
H = 18, 58.06%

only 20.69% of all tropical systems in Brownsville are major hurricanes

Longest gap between storms

12 years 1968-1979

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 5.07 years

Average years between direct hurricane hits. (usually within 40 miles to include small hurricanes)

Once every 19.13 years. (8 hits) State stats (older site)

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 51 years. (3 hits)

Average MPH of hurricane hits. (based on sustained winds from advisories, not gusts)

109 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

Before the end of 2029

This is just a statistical average & does not mean the area will be affected by that year.

Last affected by

2024 June 20th Tropical storm Alberto passes well to the south with 50 mph winds.

This area's hurricane history

1880 August 13th a major hurricane hits 145 mph from the east-southeast. Map
1886 September 23rd 90 mph from the south-southeast
1887 95 mph SEP 21 14 killed Press 28.93". 10.78" of rain.
1902 June 26th 80 mph from the south
1909 June 29th 95 mph from the east according to the hurricane research division.
1933 September 5th 95 mph from the east a storm surge of 13 ft killing 40 & injuring 500.Heavy damage reported up to Corpus christi.Winds gusted to 125 mph
1967 September 20th, 160 mph Hurricane Beulah brushes to the south, area has gusts to 80 mph & dumps 15 inches of rain here.Beulah 13 dead 136 mph at landfall pressure 28.07 & estimated 95 tornadoes associated with beulah2 of 3 local T.V stations knocked off the air.10ft storm surge, up to 30 inch rain amounts in some areas. NHC Wallet
1980 August 10th Hurricane Allen hits with 115 mph winds dumping 15 inches of rain here moderate damage 2 dead. Jim Leonard in Texas | Article | Average model error | Hit map
2008 Hurricane Dolly hit while moving northwest with 100 mph winds. Brian Osburn in South Padre Island | Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) Hit map | Our coverage as it happened

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Stat sources:

Text Sources:

"Divine Wind" by Kerry Emanuel
"Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms" by John M. Williams and Iver W. Duedall
"Florida's Hurricane History" by Jay Barnes
"Hurricane Almanac" by Bryan Norcross
HurricaneCity.com calculations by Jim Williams
"Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States" by Rick Schwartz
"Hurricane Watch" by Dr. Bob Sheets and Jack Williams
"Inside the Hurricane" by Pete Davies
"Isaac's Storm" by Erik Larson
"Killer 'Cane" by Robert Mykle
"Lunatic Wind" by William Price Fox
Miami Herald newspaper (microfilm)
"Path of Destruction" by John McQuaid and Mark Schleifstein
Sun Sentinel newspaper (microfilm)
"The Major Hurricanes To Affect The Bahamas" by Wayne Neely
"The Ship and the Storm" by Jim Carrier
Plus many more......